Some porch pirates using Wi-Fi jammers, how to prevent thefts

(NBC News) – It’s not unusual this time of year to have package thefts, however, some porch pirates are resorting to using high tech to try to evade being caught.

NBC is sharing what you can do to protect yourself as thieves target packages delivered outside.

In the above video, a doorbell camera shows what Bellaire, Texas police say are skilled thieves approaching a suburban home, but look at what happens when they get closer.

The camera begins to glitch, and the picture warps, all because police say the thieves are using a jammer, or a small device that disables a home’s Wi-Fi that security cameras rely on.

Police say the use of Wi-Fi jammers is growing, ramping up just as the holiday season peaks, with criminals targeting packages left on the doorstep.

Police say one thief outside of Chicago went low-tech, not using a Wi-Fi jammer but instead a food delivery bag to disguise his reason for approaching the house. However, watch what he does once at the front door, stuffing packages into the bag and then running when the family comes home.

Security experts say to protect your deliveries, the first thing you can get is a hardwired system that is not dependent on Wi-Fi.

Plus, consider a locking parcel box, schedule deliveries for when you’re home and opt for a camera that records on an SD card.

In the end, the video thieves hope to distort may be exactly what leads police to them.